After last Friday’s controversial heavyweight night in Obertraubling (Germany) the protagonists – just like most mans – look back on the fights with mixed feelings. While Alexander Petkovic cannot be happy with his lousy performance and bad acting which brought him an undeserved DQ win over Cisse Salif, the new IBF intercontinental champion Konstantin Airich celebrates his first round k.o. and is already thinking about his next steps.
“Actually, I was shocked when I saw the video”, said Petkovic three days after winning the WBA international championship in the worst possible way. “I want to apologize to all my fans and to everybody who supported me. This is not the way how I want to present myself on TV. It will take some time for me to get over this.”
In respect to the “low blows” which caused referee Manfred Kuechler to stop the bout in the sixth, Petkovic added: “I had the feeling that lots of Salif’s shots were too low. After seeing the tape I have to admit that it’s really hard to see that on TV. But I still believe that too many punches have been below the beltline. Still I’m sorry that things went the way they did. This is not the way any title fight should go. I’m sorry for Cisse, too, who came to fight.”
Konstantin Airich is in a totally different mood than Petkovic after stopping Varol Vekiloglu in only one round to win the vacant IBF intercontinental championship. “It feels great to have won such an important title after quite a long time”, says Airich who will most likely the top 15 in the next IBF ratings. “My plan was to put pressure on Vekiloglu from the first bell on. Of course, you cannot plan an early knockout. But I’m happy and proud that the fight went this way. I know that I can throw a punch and whoever has been in the ring with me will agree to that. I’m sure that Varol will recover from this loss. I wish him all the best for the future.”
And what’s next for the “Sandman” from Hamburg? “I always said that I am ready to fight anybody and I think I have proven it in the past when I stepped into the ring with the likes of Danny Williams or Ondrej Pala”, says Airich. “There are a lot of interesting options out there. I will not hide or run from anybody. Whoever wants a shot at me should just come and ask. I heard that Manuel Charr is still looking for an opponent. All I can say is: I’m ready to go.”
Unbeaten German prospect Charr is scheduled to fight for an international title on November 19th in Cuxhaven. After his quick win over Vekiloglu, Airich is willing to put his IBF belt on the line right away. “I know Manuel and I will surely not underestimate him”, says Airich. “But I think it would be a great fight. If he wants to challenge me for my title, he and his handlers can call me anytime.”
FORMER WORLD CHAMPION CARLOS “INDIO” QUINTANA WILL FACE HARD PUNCHER JORGE MELENDEZ NEXT OCTOBER 29 IN GUAYNABO, PUERTO RICO
Former world champion Carlos “El Indio” Quintana will face hard puncher prospect Jorge “Destroyer” Melendez next October 29 at the Coliseo Mario “Quijote” Morales in Guaynabo, where former two time champion Ivan “Iron Boy” Calderon will fight Raul “Rayito” Garcia for the interim World Boxing Organization (WBO) minimum title in a PR Best Boxing Promotions (PRBBP) presentation as part of the 24th WBO Annual Convention.
Headlining the card, Calderón (34-2-1, 6 KOs) will face García (30-2-1 y 18 nocauts) for the 105lb interim championship, while Argentinian Yessica Yolanda Bopp (16-0, 7 KOs) will defend her WBO junior flyweight belt against Suzane Warner (9-10-1, 2 KOs) in a 10 round bout.
In a coestelar fight, Quintana (28-3, 22 KOs), a former WBO welterweight champion and seventh ranked by the WBO in 154 pounds will face Meléndez (20-2-1, 20 KOs) for the WBO Latino junior middleweight title.
Meanwhile, former WBO superbantamweight champion Wilfredo Vázquez Jr. (20-1-1, 17 KOs), will fight for the WBO 122lb Intercontinental title against a foe to be named.
In another title bout, Javier Monserrate (24-1-1, 17 KOs) and Javier Castro (25-4, 20 KOs) will fight for the WBO Latino junior welter belt.
Another three four round fights will complete the card with Israel “El Heredero” Vázquez (3-0-2, 3 KOs) versus debutant Jesús Pagán in the flyweight division; Kenny Rivera (1-0, 1 KO) will face a rival to be announced in the featherweight division and Leduan Barthelemy (2-0, 2 KOs) against a foe to be named in the bantamweights.
The 24th WBO Annual Convention is from October 24 to October 29 at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Isla Verde, Carolina, Puerto Rico.
Tickets for the card available at Ticketcenter 1 787 792-5000 or www.tcpr.com. Prices are $25, $40, $78, $103, and $203.
EUROPEAN WOMEN’S C’SHIPS – TAYLOR /SMITH INTO Q/FINALS
October 18th
IRISH AMATEUR BOXING ASSOCIATION
Katie Taylor and Ceire Smith advanced to the quarter-finals of the 8th Women’s European Championships following comprehensive – and dramatic – wins in Rotterdam today.
But Katie Rowland, Michaela Walsh, Sinead Kavanagh, Lynne McEnery and Kelly Harrington bowed out of the tournament following last-16 reversals.
Taylor, who is aiming for her fifth European lightweight title in-a-row, recorded a landslide 22-3 win over Romina Marenda of Italy.
Smith, who boxes out of the Cavan BC, was trailing 8-4 versus 2010 European bronze medalist Csilla Nemedi in the fourth and final round.
But the Irish bantamweight stunned the Hungarian with a right hook straight out of the top drawer and the ref stopped the contest.
Walsh produced a fine performance but lost 16-9 to Poland’s Sandra Kruk, the current European Union champion, while Rowland was retired by the Irish corner at the end of the second versus England’s two-time AIBA World silver-medalist Nicola Adams.
McEnery, meanwhile, was edged out by one point by Lynsey Holdaway of Wales and Kelly Harrington agonisingly lost on a count back to Martina Schmaranzova of the Czech Republic after a 9-9 tie.
Kavanagh was beaten 22-3 by English middleweight Savannah Marshall.
Taylor, Smith and Lauragh O’Neill, who received a bye into the last-eight, will box for places in the semi-finals and at least a bronze medal each tomorrow.
Thursday is a rest day at the Championships. The semi-finals and finals will be held on Friday and Saturday.
European Women’s Championships (Topsportcentrum) Rotterdam, Holland
October 17th (Preliminaries)
60Kg: Katie Taylor (Bray) beat Julia Irmen (Germany) 15-7
69Kg: Laoise Traynor (Bray) lost to Lauren Price (Wales) 2-21
75Kg: Sinead Kavanagh (Drimnagh) beat Viktoria Kebikava (Belarus) 18-9
October 18th (Last 16)
48Kg: Lynne McEnery (St Pauls) lost to Lynsey Holdaway (Wales) 11-12
51Kg: Katie Rowland (Geesala) lost to Nicola Adams (England) RET3
54Kg: Ceire Smith (Cavan) beat Csilla Nemedi (Hungary) RSC4
57Kg: Michaela Walsh (Holy Family) lost to Sandra Kruk (Poland) 9-16
60Kg; Katie Taylor (Bray) beat Romina Marenda (Italy) 22-3
64Kg: Kelly Harrington (Corinthians) lost to Martina Schmaranzova (Czech Republic) 9-9 (count back)
75Kg: Sinead Kavanagh (Drimnagh) lost to Savannah Marshal (England) 3-22
(No count back scores available)
October 19th (Quarter-finals)
54Kg: Ceire Smith (Cavan) v Sandra Drabik (Poland)
60Kg: Katie Taylor (Bray) v Ayzanat Hajiyeva (Azerbaijan)
81Kg: Lauragh O’Neill (Paulstown) v Tinea Naga (Hungary)
Irish squad
48Kg: Lynne McEnery (St Pauls)
51Kg: Katie Rowland (Geesala)
54Kg: Ciere Smith (Cavan)
57Kg: Michaela Walsh (Holy Family)
60Kg: Katie Taylor (Bray)
64Kg: Kelly Harrington (Corinthians)
69Kg: Laoise Traynor (Bray)
75kg: Sinead Kavanagh (Drimnagh)
81kg: Lauragh O’Neill (Paulstown)
Team manager: Anna Moore
Coaches: Pete Taylor, Zaur Antia, Damien Walsh
Physio: Mary Louise Ryan